Memorable 'Die Hard' stunt tested on 'MythBusters'

MythBusters examined the Hollywood trope made popular by films like Die Hard, that an action hero can jump off a building while being tied to something, shoot out a window, and safely land inside several stories below.

Hosts Jon Lung and Brian Louden tested the theory by tying a rope around a dummy equipped with sensors and shoving it off a six-story tower.

The yank of the rope gave the dummy terminal whiplash, so they attempted the drop from four stories. The four-story drop still appeared to be too violent and would likely result in an injury.

After assessing that a two-story drop was plausible, the men set out to test their ability to shoot out off a building and then swing back through a window. It quickly became apparent that this element of the trope was very plausible, as the glass seemed to shatter quickly and easily.

Lung put on protective gear and using a belay system to minimize impact on his spine, he jumped off a building. He fell two stories and then swung safely through — and shattered— a pane of glass. He proved the trope is totally plausible.